During a Commons debate on the report, during which Mr Bercow remained in the chair, MPs said it was time for him to stand down.

Tory former minister Maria Miller, who chairs the women and equalities committee, said: “The report is clear that there needs to be a complete change in leadership at the most senior level, including you Mr Speaker, as chief officer, if we are, in Dame Laura’s words, to press the reset button.”

Anne Main, Tory MP for St Albans, said: “It’s the old adage that the fish rots from the head, and the leadership failings that have been highlighted in this report are extremely worrying.

“The important thing is nobody need fear to be able to call into account those however senior they are if they have failings.

“If this report has identified senior leadership failings… no one should be involved in this process who has been potentially linked to being part of the problem in this process.”

Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said: “Given that the current senior management of the House of Commons is so criticised in Dame Laura’s report, who can be trusted to take ownership of this important issue and how can those deemed to be the problem themselves ever possibly be part of the solution?”

Tory James Duddridge, a critic of Mr Bercow, mocked the Speaker, listing the “unacceptable behaviours” set out in the report before asking “how can we encourage Mr Speaker to stop this behaviour?”.

Labour’s Jess Phillips, meanwhile, claimed there are 12 people walking around in Westminster abusing people, as she called for a “massive overhaul” of Commons management.

Mr Bercow said he had read Dame Laura’s report with “great care” and had been “persuaded” by two of her recommendations.

“I firmly believe that the only possible way to resolve this matter is the establishment of a body which is both entirely independent of and external to Parliament, to hear and adjudicate upon all allegations of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct, including deciding how far to investigate past misconduct,” he said.

I have asked the Speaker for an Urgent Question in House of Commons today on recommendations in Dame Laura Cox Report-inaction risks undermining the legitimacy of the House of Commons & staff deserve to know what action is being taken https://t.co/AGLV61tfWY via @PoliticsHome